Calvert-Lewin says 'the fire has been lit again' after injury woes

Dominic Calvert-Lewin says "the fire has been lit again" after putting his injury woes behind him to inspire Everton's impressive turnaround in fortunes.

Calvert-Lewin, 26, has endured a rotten spate of fitness issues in the last 18 months but is enjoying a purple patch of form since returning from an early-season cheekbone fracture.

The striker has scored in three of the Toffees' last four games in all competitions and looks filled with confidence once again as he reflects on a hellish period of his career. 

He told Everton's official site: "I think it's true that you learn the most about yourself in difficult times. It's taught me a lot of things. Patience. 

"I'm not a very patient person but I've had to be patient and to repeat the process more times than I would have liked in terms of working so hard to get back and then have another upset — that was the most difficult part because it's like the cycle repeats again.

"It's my normal, playing football — and it has been since I was a kid. It reminds you of how precious it is and how much you enjoy doing it, when it's taken away from you.

"I can't really put into words how happy I am to be back playing. I think you can see it on my face.

"It's hard to be deprived of playing but now to be back, the fire has been lit again."

Calvert-Lewin has been restricted to just 18 appearances in each of Everton's two previous campaigns, which has left the Sheffield-born frontman without an England call-up since the European Championship in 2021.

Ollie Watkins and Eddie Nketiah have both been selected alongside Harry Kane for the Three Lions' games against Australia and Italy during this international break, moving ahead of Calvert-Lewin in Gareth Southgate's pecking order.

Everton's No9 added: "I was doing well before the injuries here at Everton and I got myself into a good position in the England set-up. 

"But people go past you because you can't do anything about it."